Now all of the theory work is in...

Hi everyone!

Well today it is finally a weekend day in which I have no more essays due in and guess what, the weather is miserable! Typical! I managed to write my last essay over last weekend and submitted on Monday and am feeling quietly confident about it. I included a lot of good quality references so think it will do!

On Thursday I received my feedback from my degree project online. In our first year the way they released grades and feedback changed, and they decided to give students feedback a week before receiving the grade for that piece. The plan there was if they released it that way students would pay more attention to the essay feedback rather than focus just on the grade which seems to have worked, but the next week wait can be torturous for some students. I was fortunate to receive quite positive feedback stating that I had been 'a tad modest in my self grading' so I can only assume I have been graded better than the grade I gave myself. They ask students to complete a self grade for work to see whether you are under or over estimating the level you are working and the results can be quite interesting.

Ward rounds can really promote MDT learning

So other than submitting my essay, I worked Wednesday-Friday this week and it went smoothly. I have just under four weeks left and it's approaching so quickly! I have a few things still to get signed off in my skills log, and am still to spend a couple of days working with others in the hospital such as the safeguarding nurse and the bed management team. I have continued to really enjoy taking part in the daily ward rounds, and felt amazing on Friday when one Consultant told me he was very impressed with me and that I will excel in the profession. I also sometimes take for granted how much patients pick up. I had felt very bouncy on Friday with the sun shining and the weekend on my doorstep and one female patient asked me how I manage to stay so smiley all of the time, but I generally find it quite easy the majority of the time. I know it wont always be like that, but this past week I can say I enjoyed all of it, and got to work with some really lovely staff and patients. I hope I never take that for granted.

Another happy note was that I found time on Thursday afternoon to pop to a car dealership to have a browse, and despite not planning to buy a car until summer I test drove one and am collecting on Friday. Forgot how much I have missed having my own car, it has been three years now and just having the freedom to jump in and go places rather than relying on a bus or train will be amazing!

Following submission of my essay earlier in the week, I have made a list of everything else outstanding to complete before I submit my portfolio in four weeks. Today I am working on two reflections, with tomorrow focussing on placement summaries and starting on a workbook. Other than that it is more tidying up my work than anything and ensuring that it is structured in a way to show evidence of my learning, and contributing towards the university being satisfied that I can be placed onto the nursing register. After those few bits I guess it is a case of clearing away my books and starting to organise ready to move to the south west. I have booked a few things up for summer leave such as camping in Wales, a theme park and a couple of trips to London while I am living so local. Despite living within such easy reach to London for the majority of my life, I am still yet to visit Harrods or do an open top bus tour!

Well I hope you have all had a good week, good luck with your plans and I will talk to you next week :)

Em x 
 

Another assessment complete :)

Happy weekend everyone!

I'm once again sat at my desk (with back to sunshine ignoring the warmth) playing with my final essay. I am planning to submit on Tuesday so I have a busy long weekend ahead of me.

I have had a really lovely week of placement, which involved a good mixture of ward management and being allocated my own set of patients to look after. It has been refreshing to work so closely one on one with the same patients for a full 13.5hr shift, as I have then been able to handover my patients to the following staff and be able to answer questions about them off the top of my head. It really doesn't feel long now until I finish!

I had my intermediate (midway) assessment with my mentor on Wednesday, which you will find happens on every placement. It is a good opportunity to discuss how you are finding the experience and progress you are making. You also are required to grade yourself on where you think you are at, as well as your mentor grading you. This is quite an interesting thing to see whether you are over or under estimating your abilities! My mentor graded me an A- which I am absolutely thrilled about, so I hope to work on this before my final assessment and bump it up maybe to an A.

Relaxing day at Wrest Park-15min drive from Luton

I managed to sacrifice an essay writing day yesterday for a day out with my partner just relaxing and switching off. I think I needed it as I woke this morning and have been rather more productive than usual! You really do need to take time out to recharge once in a while!

So yes...in 4 weeks and 6 days time (not that I am counting) I will be on my last ever day of placement. I will be meeting with my personal lecturer the day before to get the OK on my nursing portfolio, and hope to submit that along with my assessment from this placement the day after placement finishes. The day this happens, I will have eight weeks off ahead of me. A number of these are consolidation which is used for assignment and examination redo's, but any student who has completed all of their work and all of the hours required on placement can just sit back and await their final degree grade. I will spend some of the time revising a number of things in preparation for my new job, but I am determined to have the most laid back summer ever! I wont ever get that much time off to myself again...until retirement maybe?!

All of the other students in my class have either been offered a job or are in the process of applying for jobs. The hospital I am currently working at had their maths/drugs calculation tests last week and for those who pass the test will be interviewed over the next week or so. Some are considering further studies, and I have heard a few contemplating applying for a further year of study for a Masters at the University of Bedfordshire.

It is all a rather exciting time for us all, as once this next essay is in we officially have no more assignments due in. The end really is in sight!

Have a lovely weekend all!

Emma x

Considering my options

Morning Everyone!

After a soggy week in Luton the sun has finally decided to make an appearance, so I am trying to face the other way and get on with this final essay (yes...the same one I said I really needed to start previously!). I'm trying to tell myself that by writing this blog it may get me into the typing mood, but it could also be seen as procrastination.

The past week hasn't really involved anything new. I had my shifts in the hospital, which included one morning working with a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS). It involved observation of various clinics in which bad news was broken to patients. I had wanted to sit in on these to see the role of the nurse in these highly emotional situations, and what support I could offer people by adapting to their needs. One thing I have never really had the answer to over my three years of study is whether you can show emotions to a patient in certain circumstances. I don't mean breaking down and crying with them, but there is a fine line somewhere between appearing cold and clinical and being too emotional, and finding that middle ground can be difficult. It is hard to sit and talk to a patient and/or their family without it occasionally really getting to you, and this is why reflections and gaining support from the workplace and even the university is essential.

In relation to this blog title I have been thinking over the last week about whether I should start applying for alternative jobs following the course finishing. As previously mentioned I was offered a job back in February, but despite being offered a job with that particular Trust I am still waiting to get a call to offer me an exact location of work. There are two hospitals within a 25minute driving commute, but others could take up to an hour to get to. So now I am left thinking....do I apply for alternative work in case I am only offered hospitals that are too far to commute, but then am also left with the dilemma of being offered a job at one and needing to turn the other down after possibly accepting the job. Either way I have tried to be organised by contacting my two potential referees; my current mentor who is happy to do this and my personal lecturer at the university who has been helpful by offering to draft up a reference now and adapt depending on who contacts her. I guess it is a 'wait and see' situation now, I may let fate decide!

Well that is me for another week. I will be playing with research for my essay this afternoon, then have six days off in a row next week to sit and write. I am sacrificing one of the days off to see my partner as if I am moving in with him in September I should really start to get used to seeing him more than once a month!

Hope you are all well and counting down to summer like me!

Talk to you next week
Em x

Video and weekly update

Happy soggy weekend all!

Well, the weather is a tad different compared to the mini 'heatwave' of last weekend. Now is the weather to get back behind my desk and get on with my work. I say work...so far I have been browsing internet shopping websites and Rightmove, sending out a few emails and now am here with you! I know I have always been aware that sometimes it is best to start with the jobs that feel like a chore first but I need to hunt down my essay writing motivation first!

Firstly, here is a link to a video I was in back in January. I do cringe when I watch it as do not regard myself as photogenic or camera-friendly, and do find like my six year old self I do overuse the word, 'Um'. It is a short video on my experiences at the University, so I hope it comes in useful :) For a general video on the University of Bedfordshire as a whole, this one has been appearing at some cinemas recently, but if you have not managed to catch it, here it is

Nearly there...

So, my week up to now unfortunately has not been very exciting in terms of news. I have had three shifts working at the hospital and really do feel like I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. My mentors have been so supportive, so much in fact I have just sent an email to the Chief Executive of the hospital I am based letting her know how much I have appreciated the support from all staff. I had always hoped that the other nurses would be supportive, but I have also taken away so much from Health Care Assistants, specialist nurses, consultants and not forgetting ward cleaners and housekeepers. I now have until the 12th June to complete my LAST EVER ESSAY but feel good about it despite not having actually started it (well...I have a plan and some library books?!). I have started hearing murmerings of Graduation, but ours will not be until November, which will be a good opportunity to catch up with my classmates. Up to this point I didn't really think about going to Graduation as it seemed so far away, but the past three years has abolutely flown by so I guess I can start dreaming and planning my outfit!

St Mary's...place of Graduation

One thing I was thinking about the other day was whether the new plans for potential nurses to complete Health Care Assistant work first before starting the university course across England would affect whether people opt to apply for the course? If you want to read more about it, just Google the Francis Report and there is a lot of information to get your teeth stuck in to. I would be interested in any comments on this.
 

So, that is me for another week. I'm guessing those who have applied for September already know whether they have been offered a place (conditional or unconditional)? I hope all of your preparations are going well, and for those in college I hope exam prep is going well also!

Speak to you soon
Em x

Happy Sunny Sunday!

Hi All!

Well as you can see outside it is gloriously sunny! (apologies for those who are not experiencing the sunshine). I am fortunate to have a long weekend off which I feel is being a rather productive one.
I submitted my degree project on Friday and am a bit dubious about how I have done but hey, you can only try your best. I went into town to get my work printed and bound and am rather glad to have saved the document as both a Word and PDF document as the Word version at the printers was different to mine so the layout was completely wrong. Thank you PDF!
I had told myself that yesterday I would be getting on with my next uni work but the sunshine got the better of me (and the BBQ). So this morning I was at the computer at 8.30am to type up my plan and get it emailed over to my lecturer to review before I continue writing the essay. It is due in mid-June but luckily the University has organised for us to be on 30hr working weeks on placement until it is due, so bit of a relief!

The last week at placement has flown by, especially as I was only in for two long days. Five weeks down with eight left to go...quite scary! I have had the privilage of being closely involved in one patients' care for the past few weeks who has really touched me. Throughout your training and career you will meet people who somehow really move you and cause you to go home with them in mind. Don't get me wrong, I care for all of the people I came into contact with, but sometimes just a random thing can touch you such as the way they talk reminds you of your own loved one, or even their family unit can remind you of your own. Sometimes someone affects you so much but you just don't know why. This patient in particular hit a nerve I think as sometimes things happen and it appears completely unfair, and sometimes you feel for them as they just never seem to see the light at the end of the tunnel. But despite feeling how unfair it is on them, I also feel glad I could have been there for them also. Caring and compassion are essential qualities of anyone going into nursing, but sometimes because of these qualities you have you may find it difficult to not take certain emotions home. I can't say I appreciate my own life more due to others suffering, but I now see that every day is precious, and you have to make the most of it. I find in situations where you feel particularly moved or emotional it is good to talk to people such as your mentor as they can listen, understand and usually tell you an experience they had years ago of a patient who equally moved them and they have never forgotten. We are also encouraged to write reflections to learn from these expereriences, and I guess this post could be described as one of these.
So that is me for another week. Go outside and enjoy the warmth....they say the weather is the subject most discussed by the British so go on, go and relax :)

Talk to you next week
Em x




Stephen Sutton


On another note, I believe this young man deserved a mention as he has done such good in his life and moved so many. Rest In Peace Stephen

Feeling rather positive :)

Evening All :)

Welcome to the end of the weekend...how have your been? Busy? Back at college in the morning or work? And how was your weekend?

Despite almost falling asleep as I type, I am feeling very positive. It's funny how your mind set can change completely from one week (or day) to the next.



Our company for the most of the 26miles

I've just got back from a weekend up North and we made it...26.6miles walk complete along Hadrian's Wall and it definitely was a challenge. One of the other girls I was with experienced quite a bit of pain but kept on going and we got to the end of the trek together and managed to raise around £800. My legs are extremely stiff today and I have a long shift tomorrow so I'm hoping that regular ibuprofen and muscle rub will keep me moving!

The week ahead is looking good though. Am only in for two long shifts tomorrow and Thursday which gives me a couple of days to tidy up my degree project and hopefully get it bound and submitted on Friday. The weekend will hopefully be spent writing up a plan to my next essay to get some support and then I can get started on that. I never used to submit plans of essays beforehand, but was encouraged to do so by a lecturer a while ago and it really has helped to keep me on track. I emailed the lecturer in charge of the unit for the next essay with two topic suggestions and received some really good feedback, along with the offer that if I put together a plan she would happily advise me on any key points before I start to write it. If you do end up going to the UoB, make sure you make the most of your lecturers. The unit information tends to state that you need to submit plans a minimum of a couple of weeks before the essay is due, but it is worth it as I have known on a few occasions students to submit a very well written essay but receive low marks or even a fail due to going completely off topic so lecturer advice can hopefully reduce this risk!

When you are on placement, a support (link) lecturer usually visits the hospital on a weekly basis, so if you need any help or advise regarding placement, they are always available. We also can attend a monthly student forum at the hospital giving us the opportunity to raise issues and have an hour of teaching from a member of the hospital staff (it was the blood transfusion nurse on this occasion). We were told that the jobs for the Luton & Dunstable hospital are now up on the NHS Jobs website for those qualifying in September, so there is a general buzz of excitement and anticipation amongst the students. The link for the advert can be found by clicking here, and it may be worth a look just to get some idea of what they tend to look for. As seen in the advert that despite being a public advert, they aim it at the UoB students only which was definitely a course selling point for applying to this course!

Right, I best be off as will be up early and may fall asleep on this keyboard otherwise! Hope you all have a nice week!

Em x 

Long Bank Holiday weekend off? What's that?!

Hi all from a lovely sunny evening in Luton :)

How are things? Are you enjoying a lovely weekend off? I can't keep up with bank holidays and holidays at the moment...I'm thinking the next week off for a lot of people is at the end of May?

Would be nice...

The only way I tend to know that the schools and colleges are closed is when I wonder why there are hardly any cars around in the afternoon. I have just finished my third week of placement and so far I have only had early shifts (7am-2.50pm) or long days (7am-9.30pm). This week I worked four days finishing with a long day yesterday and got home, had something to eat and went straight to bed. I then woke at 7am this morning naturally to then get up and get back behind the desk to finish my degree project draft. The pressure started to hit when I realised that I am now back on placement tomorrow for four more shifts in a row and then away for charity work all weekend. No time at all to do my university work! I wish I was one of those people who could get home from an early and get on with my work but all I do is get home, have a cup of tea, chill and have an early night.

Regarding working on the Bank Holiday tomorrow, the university does tell us that students are not expected to work on a bank holiday. This is great for those with plans or children, but as I had neither (oh the exciting life I lead!) I chose to work it, as I would just have had to make up the hours another time.

The long shift yesterday was my second in two weeks. The total duty time after breaks was 13 1/2 hrs but to be fair it flew by. Different wards follow different shift patterns, most seem to be 7 1/2 or 12hr shifts. I had some positive feedback yesterday from one of the consultants on the ward, which seemed to make it all worthwhile. When on placement you will find times when either your feet ache, you feel overwhelmed or just maybe you want to hide away, but you will equally get moments that make you think you are getting there.

So with 10 weeks left, I have a draft of my 4500 word project (currently sitting 1000 words over so need to do a lot of condensing!) and am on the hunt for a good scenario on placement for my next essay that is due in the middle of June. I am literally counting the days to that moment when all of my written work has been submitted and I may have a day or two off to rest up and be lazy!


So please make the most of your week off at the end of May if you get it, and the summer off (unless you are in that lovely position where you plan on working up until the point of starting the course!). I really look back now and think I took time off for granted, and each year that passed I promised myself I would be more organised the next and use my time more wisely. Don't plan too much or if you do, don't feel bad at actually doing things other than uni prep. Everyone needs to wind down and switch off sometimes, mine will be my two months off in summer! I will be doing nothing but packing to move and sunbathing!

No matter how many bank holidays or weekends you may find yourself working, just remember how much it will pay off in the end. Trust me, the three years fly by so if in doubt, count down towards summer and always make sure you have something to look forward to (and think of the money you are saving by not going out ;)

Hope all is good your end!
Emma x